Mesh-type skin biopsy appliance

Abstract

A mesh appliance and method for use in excising skin samples from stretched skin, as in taking punch biopsies. The appliance is placed on a stretched skin area and maintains the skin in stretched condition during the sample incising operation. It is used with the skin stretched in the direction perpendicular to the skin Langer's lines, thereby producing a skin opening which is elliptical in contour and effectively sutured.

I claim: 
     
       1. In combination with a biopsy punch, a stretched-skin-excising appliance comprising: a) a stiff piece of mesh material sized to overlie a selected skin area and having an opening dimensioned to clear the punch,   b) the material having mesh dimensions predetermined to make visible to an operator the said selected skin area and to allow passage of exudate, including blood and blood serum,   c) the material having a skid-resistant, skin-contacting surface and an opposite pressure-applying surface.   
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the meshes of the mesh material have a mesh size predetermined to create friction by permitting compressed skin to pop up through the meshes, thereby releasably anchoring the appliance to the skin. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the meshes have a mesh opening size of from 5 to 10 mm and the plate is composed of filaments having a thickness of from 1/2 to 11/2 mm. 
     
     
       4. The combination of claim 2 wherein the piece of mesh material is fabricated from stiff plastic material or metal. 
     
     
       5. The combination of claim 2 wherein the piece of mesh material is stiffly flexible, to conform to the skin contour during use. 
     
     
       6. The method of excising skin samples from skin having Langer's lines, which comprises: a) stretching the skin in a sample area in a direction substantial perpendicular to the direction of the skin Langer's lines,   b) providing an appliance comprising a meshwork plate having an opening dimensioned to clear a skin incising tool,   c) the appliance having a skin-contacting surface and an opposite pressure-applying surface,   d) placing the appliance on the stretched skin with the skin-contacting surface in pressure contact with the skin and the pressure-applying surface positioned for the application of external pressure in amount sufficient to maintain the skin beneath the appliance in stretched condition during the sample incising operation, and in amount sufficient to cause the compressed skin to pop up through the meshes, temporarily anchoring the appliance in position,   e) incising the stretched skin to make a substantially round cut defining the sample,   f) excising the sample, and   g) removing the appliance from the stretched skin area, thereby permitting the tension forces of the skin to alter the round configuration of the hole to an elongated, substantially elliptical configuration.